Disney Crossy Road an avenue to bigger audience

Crossy Roads has been a hit on mobile platforms. With 50 million downloads and millions of dollars in the bank, it has generated the kind of numbers that attract big players in the industry. And one of those names happened to be Disney. Over the past few months, the company called developer Matt Hall and his studio at Hipster Whale about a collaboration. The resulting conversation led to a Disney version of the popular game, which was announced at GDC this year.

“It was a lot of fun to do,” Hall said. “It was a natural fit.”

The upcoming game that’s scheduled to be released today is a separate app. It features a Disney-centric take game that echoes the Atari classic Frogger. At launch on iOS and Android devices, Disney Cross Road features nine themes based on the company’s franchises.

Those include the Haunted Mansion, which is a ride at Disneyland park, and Toy Story. Accompanying thosee themes are 10 to 12 figurines. These are characters that players can use to traverse the endless parade of obstacles. They are unlocked by paying 100 coins to use the prize machines, which gives players a capsule containing a random hero or they can be bought outright.The Lion King level of Disney Cross Road features a different kind of obstacles — wildebeest.

As for the gameplay, it remains mostly unchanged from the regular Cross Road. The only major differences will be in the level design. Each franchise will have different enemies and obstacles. For example, the Haunted House stage will be pitch dark and players will have to light candelabras to show the way. In addition, they’ll have to watch out for suits of armors, which charge at players.

On the Lion King stage, players will have to watch out for animals instead of cars as they traverse the level. And as always, there will be an eagle that descends and eliminates players who linger too long in the same place.

Disney Cross Road is a type of game that’s easy to learn, but hard to master with an addictive challenge similar to Flappy Bird. There’s just something about the accessibility of tapping the screen to move and trying to beat your top score that will keep players hooked on the title. And with the Disney-themed version of the game, a new audience will get to experience that same sort of thrill.
Images courtesy of Disney Interactive